Machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms



my 23, 1939. J. T; LANCASTER MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1935 May 23, 1939- J. T. LANCASTER MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOIS Filed June 14, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VE/V 727A.

May 23, 1939- J. T. LANCASTER MACHINE FOR APPLYING, PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOIS Filed June 14, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 J. T. LANCASTER May 23, 1939.

" MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO snoa Bo'r'rous Filed Jun; 14, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 M 23, 19379- I J. T. LANCASTER 2,159,031

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BO'ITOIS Filed Ju ne 14, 1935 6 Sheets-sheaf 5 a a I 3;! A h aw 3!! KM "x90 '36 3' 2 aw I I 73 F1 gp q 3% I 7 "446 s: A 2w JfZ L Q 370 .915 27/? 262 2% B 80 ea 1.95

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J. T. LANCASTER 2,159,031 MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE IO SHOE BOTTOIS Filed June 14, 1935 s sheets-sheet e MNmmmw- I, 111111111 111111111 Patented May 23, 1939 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Application June 14, 1935, Serial No. 26,629

76 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms and is illustrated herein as embodied in a machine for cement attaching soles to shoes.

During recent years a number of different types of'machines have been developed for attaching soles to shoe bottoms by cement, these machines having endless series of pressure-applying units, including inflatable pads and shoeiiv engaging abutments, arranged to be presented successively at operating stations where soles and shoes are mounted thereon and then to be moved intermittently in circuitous paths around the machines while the soles and shoes are under 15 pressure. The pressure in the pads is released before they return to the operating stations so that the shoes with their soles permanently attached thereto may be removed and other soles and shoes introduced on the pads.

2 Objects of the present invention are to provide improved means for relatively positioning soles and shoes on the pressure-applying pads of a multiple unit machine, to provide improved mechanism for applying pressure to the soles and shoes, and to provide improved means for operating and controlling such means and mechanisms whereby the operation of the machine is simplified and accelerated.

In accordance with the foregoing, a feature of the invention comprises a single set of sole and shoe-positioning gages for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad of a machine of the endless conveyor type when the. pad is located at an operating station, said gages being constructed and arranged to move with the pad out of said station while the pad is being inflated to apply the sole-attaching pressure, thereby causing the sole and shoe to be maintained in proper position during the inflating operation. As illustrated, the gages are carried by arms arranged to swing about a horizontal axis from a substantially vertical position into operative position over each pad in turn and means is provided for looking the arms in such position before the gages act to position the sole and shoe relatively to each other on the pad.

In accordance with another feature of the invention novel means is provided for permitting thegages to move with each pad out of the operating station, said means including a carrier member movable on a fixed support, the carrier member being automatically returned at the proper time to the operating station so that the gages will be in position to operate on the sole and shoe mounted on the following pad. In

order to permit the gages to move with the pads out of the operating station a novel arrangement is provided for detachably connecting the means that swings the gages into operative position to the gage mechanism and further means is provided for insuring that this swinging means connects properly with the gages when the latter are returned to the operating station.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel mechanisms for movably supporting and operating the pad inflating means and for locking said means in operative position while the pad moves out of the operating station and until the desired pressure is produced in the pad, these mechanisms comprising in part a fluid pressure nozzle operated by a treadle which simultaneously causes the power drive of the machine to start the intermittent movement of the pads, and means for automatically unlocking and returning the nozzle to inoperative position when the inflating operation is completed, thereby permitting the nozzle to be returned with the gage mechanism to the operating station. The means for unlocking the nozzle and the means for unlocking the positioning gages to permit both sets of mechanism to return to the operating station are fluid pressure controlled. Preferably, and as herein illustrated, these means are operated by the fluid pressure in the pad on which the shoe being operated upon is mounted although it is Within the invention to provide fluid pressure from some other source to accomplish the same result. When the pressure in the pad on which the shoe is mounted reaches a predetermined amount the unlocking means referred to are constructed and arranged to be operated in a timed sequence that causes the gages to be released from the shoe and sole before the nozzle is released from engagement with the pad. Subsequent release of the nozzle from the pad permits both sets of mechanism to return to the operating station, this being accomplished as herein illustrated automatically by a weight constantly urging the mechanisms in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pads travel.

I For operating the positioning gages the illust'rated machine is provided, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, with novel mechanism including a plurality of slidable rack bars cooperating with pinions, this mechanism being carried by the arms which support the gages andconseque'ntly being movable therewith intoposition over the respective pads. A manually -oper'ated lever is provided for operating the rack bars and pinions and the arrangement is such that movement of said lever in one direction causes the racks or slides associated with the gages at opposite sides of the shoe to move equal amounts in opposite directions thereby moving the gages equal distances toward or away from the sole and shoe. Should it be desired merely to find the sole where it has been located by an operator on the pad and then to position the shoe relatively to the sole without any substantial movement of the sole laterally of the pad, further means is provided operable at the will of the operator for accomplishing this result by causing certain of the slides or rack bars to operate yieldingly on floating bearings so that engagement of a set of gages with either side of the sole and shoe stops such gages and causes the opposite set of gages to move into engagement therewith before the gages act to position the sole and shoe relatively to each other on the pad.

Novel means is also provided for locking the gages in operative engagement with the sole and shoe after they have positioned them on the pad, this locking means being released to permit the gages to be automatically withdrawn from the sole and shoe by the fluid pressure operated means referred to above, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to release the gages from the sole and shoe first and then to release the gage carrying arms so that the gages will be free to swing up to their vertical or inoperative position.

Other features of the invention comprise novel mechanism for insuring that the gages mounted on the same side of the shoe will all engage the sole or shoe before any relative positioning of the sole and shoe takes place; pivotal mountings for the gages which permit them to adjust themselves automatically in accordance with the shape of the portions of the sole and shoe engaged. thereby; and novel means for maintaining the operating surfaces of the gages normally in positions facing the sides of the sole and shoe while permitting the gages to rotate sufficiently to position themselves to the shapes of the sole and shoe.

The invention also provides novel positioning gages adapted to position a shoe relatively to a sole the marginal portion of which is to extend beyond or overhang the shoe bottom a predetermined amount. As illustrated, these gages comprise fingers carried by slide members andarranged to engage the opposite sides of the sole and shoe substantially at the ends of the tip line and ball line, the slides being positioned to cause the fingers to approach the shoe and sole substantially at right angles to the edge of the sole and being relatively movable to cause the gages of each set to contact with a side of the shoe or sole before operating to position them relatively to each other on the pad.

The sole and shoe-engaging fingers of each set of the above-mentioned gages are arranged to be moved relatively to each other after contacting with the sole and shoe to position said members so that the sole margin extends beyond the shoe bottom the required amount, this being accomplished by a rotatable disk-like member carried by the gage-supporting slide and engaging projections on the fingers. Upon engagement of one of the fingers with the sole or shoe respectively, the movement of that finger stops and continued movement of the slide rotates the disk-like member to force the other finger of that pair against the member it is adapted to engage, the

arrangement being such that the gage fingers move the shoe and sole relatively toeach other until the overhang or extension of the sole margin at the shoe bottom is the required amount or, in other words, until the shoe and sole are centralized relatively toeach other.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section of a cement sole-attaching machine of the endless conveyor type embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating a portion of the mechanism adjacent to the operating station;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a further enlarged scale of the sole and shoe-positioning or gage mechanism and the pad-inflating mechanism with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed View partly in section of the gage mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the gages taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view through the gage mechanism taken on the line V'II--V'II of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of sole and shoe gaging mechanism operating on a sole and shoe, parts of the mechanism being broken away and in section;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the gage mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8 with portions of the mechanism shown in section; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the work-engaging ends of one pair of the sole and shoe gages illustrated in Fig. 8.

The invention is illustrated herein by way of example as embodied in a cement sole-attaching machine of the endless conveyor type such, for example, as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,005,610, granted June 18, 1935, on the application of William C. Card, Jr., although in many of its aspects the invention is not limited to use in a machine of that type as distinguished from machines of the rotary turret type or the so-called Ferris wheel type. As illustrated in the patent referred to, the machine is provided with a plurality of pressure-applying devices or pad boxes mounted for intermittent movement into and out of an operating station at which a sole and shoe are mounted on each of the pads in said pad boxes to receive the pressure by which the sole is to be attached to the shoe bottom. The frame of the machine com prises upstanding members l2, l2 provided at their upper ends with endless inwardly facing tracks l4, l6, which are U-shaped in cross section. The pad boxes 18 contain inflatable pads 20 for applying the sole-attaching pressure and are provided at their opposite ends with pairs of downwardly projecting arms 22 carrying rolls 24 adapted to enter the tracks I 4, l6 and thus support the pad boxes on said tracks. The pad boxes are interconnected to form an endless conveyor by a chain 26 which passes over sprocket wheels (not shown) at the opposite ends of the frame, one of these sprocket wheels being driven intermittentlyat the proper time by a clutch (not shown) which is thrown out of operation automatically to cause the pad boxes to be presented one by one at the operating station of the machine. In the patent referred to, the clutch mechanism is manually-operated by a bell crank lever to advance the pad boxes successively into and out of the. operating station and, in the present machine, this lever may be connected in any usual or suitable manner as by a link to a treadle 28 fulcrumed on a stud 29 and arranged also to operate means for introducing fluid under pressure into the pad 20 ofeach pad box, as will appear hereinafter, thus causing the conveyor to begin moving simultaneously with the introduction of fluid under pressure into the pad. w

Each pad box I8 has extending longitudinally thereof a U-shaped bail 30 having a toe rest 32 at its inner portion for engaging the forepart of a shoe and a last-engaging abutment 34 mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the bail over the heel end of the pad by a hand screw 36. On the inner end of the bail 30 (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted a toe-engaging stop or abutment 38 which is mounted for heightwise movement in a Ti-shaped slot M (Fig. 5) formed in a plate 40 carried by a horizontal screw 42 mounted in the bail and being adjustable longitudinally thereof by means of a knurled hand nut 44 provided with a series of depressions 46 into which a springepressed plunger 48 snaps to hold the nut against turning. The screw 42 is prevented from rotating in the bail by a double-headed key 50. A light spring 52, connected at one end to the abutment 38 and at the other end to a pin in the plate 40, tends normally to hold the abutment 38 at the lower limit of its heightwise movement, this limit being determined by a pin 54 mounted in the abutment. When a pad is in the pad box the member 38 will be maintained in engagement with the upper surface of the pad, as shown in Fig. 5.

The means for inflating the pads 20 and thereby forcing the shoes against the abutments 32, 34 to applying pressure to the sole and shoe comprises a nozzle 56 arranged for sliding movement toward and away from each pad box in a casting 58 mounted for movement longitudinally of the machine and parallel to the direction of movement of the pad boxes on a supporting bar 69 bolted to the frame I2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the casting 58 is provided at opposite sides with two pairs of downwardly extending arms 62 which straddle the bar 60 and between the upper and lower ends of which are mounted two pairs of horizontal rolls 64, 66 arranged respectively to ride on the upper and lower sides of the supporting bar 60. The arms 62 also carry vertical rolls 68 for engaging respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the bar 60, this construction permitting the casting 58 to move along the bar 80 while being supported in a predetermined position relatively thereto. The nozzle 56 (Fig. 3) slides in a hole in the central portion of the casting 58 and lines up with an opening in a valve member 10 secured to the inner end of the pad box by a connecting member 'iI threaded on a nipple I3 and arranged to permit fluid under pressure to be introduced into and exhausted from the pad. The valve I0 has an inlet port I2 to admit fluid under pressure to the pad and an outlet port I4 for exhausting it therefrom. As illustrated, the inlet port 12 is normally closed by a valve I6 seated against the opening I2 and maintained in such position by a light compression spring 18. Fluid under pressure, for example, compressed air, passes through the inlet port" when the valve I6 is open, through a bypass 82 and enters a passage 80 leading to the chamber of the pad 20. The passage 80 is connected by small openings 84 with a lower chamber 86 at the bottom of which is located the exhaust port I4. A second valve 88, hereinafter referred to as the exhaust valve, closes the port 14 and is normally maintained against the port by a compression spring 90. During the inflation of the pad the pressure in the chamber 86 presses the valve 88 against the opening 14 to seal the outlet valve and thus prevent the air from escaping.

Before the pads arrive at the operating station where the nozzle 56 is normally located and where the inflating operation is begun, they must be deflated to permit the shoe to be removed and a fresh sole and shoe to be mounted thereon. For this purpose each exhaust valve 88 is provided with a downwardly extending pin 92 which is arranged to ride up on a substantially horizontal cam 94 (shown in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3) bolted to a stationary portion of the frame and extending longitudinally thereof in advance of the operating station for a distance approximately equal to the space between two pad boxes. The opposite ends of the cam 94 are inclined downwardly to permit the pins 92 to ride up on the high portion of the cam so that each exhaust valve 88 will be held open after it leaves the position in advance of the operating station until just before it arrives at the operating station. The length of the cam 94 may be varied as conditions require to allow more or less time for the pads'to be exhausted. Each valve casing 10 is provided with two upwardly extending portions 96, 98 (Figs. 2 and 3) and a strap I00 surrounds the portion 96 and is secured to the pad box by screws to prevent the valve casing from turning. The projections 96, 98 are provided respectively with fluid pressure-operated plungers I02, I04 the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The nozzle 56 is threaded on the forward end of a tube I06 and has an annular flange I08 for engaging a stationary portion of the frame and thereby limiting the sliding movement of the tube in the casting 58 rearwardly or away from the valve member I0. The opening in the end of the nozzle is normally closed by a check valve IIO urged against the opening by a spring H2 and having a projection II4 extending forwardly beyond the end of the nozzle and arranged to engage a short projection IIS on the inlet valve 16 so that when the nozzle is moved into operative position against the valve 10, the projections I I4, H6 contact to open the valves I6, I I0, thereby admitting fluid under pressure to the pad. The rear portion of the air tube I06 is threaded and is connected by an elbow H8 (Fig. l) to a flexible tubing I20 the other end of which may be connected with any suitable source of fluid pressure supply.

The nozzle is moved into engagement with the inlet 'valve 16 by mechanism operated by the treadle 28 and arranged to force the nozzle forwardly toward the valve casing yieldingly through sion spring I24 (Fig. 4) is a relatively large collar I 26 the opposite side portions of which are extended laterally, as shown in Fig. 2. The lefthand side of this collar carries a forwardly extending shaft I28 which is hollow for a substantial portion of its length and supports the compression spring I24 the forward end of which engages the flange I08 on the nozzle. The opposite side of the collar I26 has a recess in which is seated another compression spring I32 the forward portion of which enters a hole bored in the bracket 58 and engages the bottom of the hole.

On the under side of the collar I26 is a downwardly projecting lip I34 (Fig. 3) which is in position to be engaged by a roll I36 carried on the upper arm of a bell-crank lever I38 fulcrumed on a pin I40 threaded into a bracket I42 bolted to the frame I2. The lower arm of the bell-crank lever I38 is pivotally connected to a treadle rod I44, the lower end of which is connected to the lower arm of another bell-crank lever I46 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivoted at I48 in the frame I2, the upper arm of said lever being connected by a horizontal rod I59 to an arm I52 extending upwardly from the hub of the treadle 28 and pivoting about the axis 29. The treadle 28 is normally maintained in its upper or inoperative position against a stop screw I54 by means of a tension spring I56 connected at its upper end to an angle bar I58 bolted to the bracket I42 and at its lower end to the treadle rod I44 by a collar I60.

In the operation of the mechanism the operator depresses the treadle 28 to rotate the bellcrank lever I38 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the roll I36, through engagement with the lip I34, slides the collar I26 along the air tube I06 to compress the spring I 24 against the nozzle flange I08. This forces the nozzle- 56 yieldingly into engagement with the valve casing I0, thereby bringing the projections on the valves H0, 16 together to open the valves and permit fluid under pressure to enter the pad. Movement of the collar I26 also compresses the spring I32 which is seated in the bracket 58. Accordingly, when the nozzle is released in a manner to be presently described, the spring I24 acts first to return the slide collar I26 against the spacing collar I22 without having any effect upon the position of the nozzle. The spring I32 then operates to move the tube I06 and nozzle rearwardly until the flange I08 contacts with the casting 58. Rearward movement of the nozzle permits the spring 18 to close the inlet valve and prevent the compressed air from escaping from the pad.

In order to lock the nozzle 56 in operative position after it has been moved into engagement with the valve I0 of a particular pad box, the collar I26 is provided with a forwardly extending bar I62 secured to the collar I26 by a screw I64 and provided on its upper side (Fig. 3) with rearwardly inclined teeth I66, the forward portion of the bar traveling in a slot I68 formed in the upper side of the casting 58. Above the bar I62 the casting 51 is provided with an upwardly extending ,cylindrical projection I 10 in which is mounted for vertical sliding movement a pawl I12 having formed at its lower end a single tooth arranged to engage the inclined teeth on the bar I62, The pawl is normally maintained in a lowered position with its tooth engaging one of the teeth of the bar I62 by a compression spring I14 the upper end of which engages the end of the hole formed in the projection I10 and the lower end engaging a shoulder on the pawl. As the nozzle 56 is moved forwardly toward the valve mechanism 10 the pawl rides over the teeth I66 and at the end of the movement engages a tooth to lock the nozzle in operative position. The nozzle remains in operative position until the pressure in the pad reaches a predetermined amount after which further mechanism is operated by the pressure in the pad to raise the pawl and permit the springs I24, I32 to return the nozzle to inoperative position.

It should be pointed out that since the nozzle is locked in operative position during the inflation of each pad and since, as stated above, the treadle 28, besides moving the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism also trips the clutch to start the intermittent movement of the pads, the nozzle will move out of the operating station with the pad While the inflating operation is in progress and will continue moving with the pad until released by the fluid pressure-operated mechanism referred to which operates when the required pressure is produced in the pad. Movement of the air nozzle and associated mechanism out of the operating station with the pad is permitted, of course, by the movable mounting of the casting 58 on the supporting bar 60. When the nozzle is released from the operative engagement with the pad, however, and automatically returned to inoperative position by the springs I24, I32, it is desirable to return the nozzle and associated mechanism to the operating station so that it will be in position to inflate the next pad which has now moved into said station. The return of the nozzle to the operating station is accomplished by means of a weight I16 (Fig. 1) on the end of a cord I18 which passes over a pulley I carried by a bracket I 82 bolted to the frame I2, the cord being secured at its other end in a projection I83 formed on the lower end of one of the downwardly extending arms 62 of the casting 58 by a binding screw I84. A projection I86 at the upper portion of this arm 62 is arranged to engage the frame I2 and position the mechanism at the operating station, as shown in Fig. 2.

The illustrated machine is provided with mechanism for relatively positioning a shoe and sole on each pad when the latter is located at the operating station, this mechanism being arranged to remain in operative engagement with the shoe and sole while the pad is being inflated to apply the sole-attaching pressure to the shoe bottom. The movable casting 58 has two forwardly extending arms I88, I90 (Fig. 4) which support a horizontal shaft I92. Pinned to the opposite ends of the shaft I92, outside the arms I88, I90, are arms I94, I96 which are interconnected by mechanism later to be described and which are arranged to rotate as a unit with the shaft I92 from the upwardly extending position shown in Fig. 1 into a substantially horizontal position along each side of the pad box I 8 at the operating station, this position being determined by a pair of lugs I98 formed on the opposite sides of each pad box. The arms I94, I96 carry sole and shoepositioning gages and mechanism for moving said gages into and out of operative engagement with the sole and shoe. These arms are normally maintained in the substantially vertical position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a weight 200 carried by a rearwardly extending arm 292 formed on the hub of the arm I96. The weight 200 nearly counterbalances the weight of the arms I94, I96 and the mechanism carried thereby so that the arms can be swung upwardly to inoperative position by a relatively small amount offorce exerted thereon, this force being supplied as illustrated herein by a torsion spring 204 encircling the shaft I 92 and having one end secured in the arm I 90 of the casting 58 and the other end in a collar 206 fastened by a set screw 208 to the shaft I92. When the arms are lowered the spring 204 is tensioned sufficiently to provide the force necessary to return the arms to inoperative position. The vertical or inoperative position of the interconnected arms I94, I96 is determined by 2. lug 2I0 projecting laterally from the arm I96 and arranged to engage the upper surface of a projection 2I2 formed on the casting 58.

The gage-carrying arms I94, I96 are swung downwardly into operative position over the pad at the operating station by treadle-operated mechanism (Fig. 2) comprising a treadle 2I4 pivoted on a transverse shaft 2I6 the opposite ends of which are supported in bearings 2 I8 projecting from the frame I2. The treadle 2I4 operates a gear segment 220 arranged to engage rack teeth 22I formed on a substantially vertical slide bar 222 mounted for sliding movement in a guideway 224 formed in the lower portion of the 1 frame and enclosed by acover plate 225, the slide bar being normally held at the lower limit of its sliding movement so that the treadle 2 I4 is maintained in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, by a tension spring 226 secured at its upper end to the slide bar and at its lower end to an angle bar 228 bolted to a stationary portion of the frame I2. The slide bar is provided with a stop screw 230arranged to engage a lug 232 formed on the cover plate 225, thereby determining the lower limit of its sliding movement.

At its upper end the slide bar 222 passes through an enclosed slot in a bracket 234 bolted to the bar 60 upon which the valve mechanism slides. The upper end of the bar 222 is provided with a laterally extending pin 236 which is arranged to enter a hole in a slide block 238 (Fig. 3) mounted in a T-shaped slot 240 formed in an arm 242 extending rearwardly at an angle of about 45-from the hub portion of the gagecarrying arm I94. The slide block 238 is providedat one side with a depression which is engaged when the block is at the outer limit of its sliding movement in the slot 240by a detent 244 pressed toward the block by a compression spring 246 mounted in ahole in the arm 242 and secured therein by a cap screw 248. To swing or rotate the arms I94, I 96 about the pivot I92 to lower them into operative position, the operator depresses the treadle 2 to rotate the shaft 2I6 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2; and, through the gear segment 220, to elevate the slide bar 222 and thereby rotate the arm 242 into the position shown in Fig. 3; the slide block 238 moving in the T-slot 240 during such rotation out of engagement with the detent 244 and then back again to be engaged by the detentand held in position, the detent forming means for insuring that the pin or projection 239 of the gage rotating mechanism will register and connect with thehole or opening in the slide block when the gage mechanism is released and returned with the nozzle 56 to the operating station by the weight I16.

In order that the operator will not have to keep his footon the treadle 2I4 to hold the arms I94, I96 in a horizontal position while the gages are being operated and while the mechanism is moving as a unit with the pad boir out of the operating station, there is provided on the arm I88 of the casting 58 a flange 250 (Figs. 3 and 4) which extends part Way around the cylindrical end portion of said arm. The hub of the swinging arm I94 is provided with an upstanding projection 252 in which is slidably mounted a springpressed plunger 254 the lower end of which is shaped to reduce friction and is arranged to ride on the surface of the flange 250, the plunger being pressed against the flange by a compression spring 256 bearing at one end against a shoulder on the plunger and at the other end against a cover plate 258. When the gage-carrying arms I94, I 96 are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the plunger is riding on the surface of the flange 250 and when the arms are swung downwardly over the pad, as shown in Fig. 3, the plunger rides off the end of the flange and locks the arms in their downwardly rotated position. The cover plate 258 extends downwardly on the farther side of the projection 252 to close the opening in the projection and is secured in place by screws, as shown in Fig. 4. This downwardly extending portion of the cover plate is provided with a vertical slot 259 through which extends a pin 260 secured in the plunger 254 and projecting laterally beyond the projection. This pin provides means for releasing the plunger from its latched engagement with the flange 250 and thus permits the gage-supporting arms to be rotated upwardly into a substantially vertical position by the weight 200 and torsion spring 204 after the positioning gages are withdrawn from the shoe and sole. Like the pawl I12, which looks the nozzle 56 in operative engagement with the valve mechanism 19, the plunger 254 is withdrawn automatically from latched position by fluid pressure-operated mechanism later to be described, the release of the plunger occurring when the pad has been fully inflated.

The sole and shoe-positioning mechanism carried by the arms I94, I96 is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the arms I94, I96 carry respectively at their outer portions splined shafts 262, 264 journaled in bearings formed at the central and outer portions of the arms and provided on their upper sides with keyways 266, 268. Keyed respectively to the shafts 262, 264 by double-headed keys 210 (Fig. '1 are pinions 212, 214, the keys being held in the pinions by their headed portions so that they move along the shafts with said pinions. The pinions 212, 214 are located respectively between upstanding walls of slide members 216, 218 slidably mounted in guideways 280 formed in the upper sides of the arms I94, I96. At the upper ends of the upstanding walls of the slide members 216, 218 are housings 28I, 283 provided respectively with cover plates 282, 284 and having transverse openings through which pass slide arms 286, 288 provided on their lower surfaces with rack teeth 290 (Fig. '1) which mesh With the teeth on the pinions 212, 214. The splined shafts 262, 264 are prevented from moving longitudinally of their bearings in the arms I94, I96 by collars 292, 294 pinned to the outer ends of the shafts and by pinions 296, 298 pinned to the opposite ends of the respective shafts and having hubs which engage the hearings on the arms. The pinions 296, 298 are rotated by manually-operated mechanism presently to be described to move the slide arms 286, 288 toward and away from the shoe and sole on the pad, thereby moving the positioning gages which are pivoted on the inner ends of the slide arms into and out of operative engagement with the sole and shoe. In order that the gages may be ad justed longitudinally of the pad to position them for operating on shoes of different sizes, the slides 216, 218 are provided at their right-hand sides, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, with integral spools 366, 362. The forward bearings on the arms I94, I96 have lateral extensions through which are threaded relatively long screws 364, 306 provided with knurled heads whereby they may be rotated and having pinned in their inner ends disks 398, 3Ill arranged to enter the grooves in the spools 366, 362. By this arrangement the slides 216, 218 may be adjusted in the guideways 280 longitudinally of the arms I94, I96 to position the gages to accommodate shoes of different lengths.

The sole and shoe-positioning giage's' {illustrated in Figs 3 to 6, inclusive, are constructed and arranged to position a shoe A on a last L relatively to an outsole B the periphery of which coincides substantially with the shape of the shoe bottom or, in other words, a shoe the outsole of which is to have no appreciable extension or overhang relatively to the shoe bottom. The gages themselves comprise curved fingers 3I2, 3I4 arranged to engage the inner and outer sides of either a right or a left shoe in the vicinity of the tip line, as shown in Fig. 4, a similar gage finger 3I6 for engaging the side of the shoe approximately at one end of the ball line and a pair of somewhat smaller fingers 3l8 for engaging the side of the shoe short distances either side of the opposite end of the ball line. The fingers for engaging the inner side of the shoe A shown in Fig. 4 are carried at the oposite ends of a horizontal lever 326 fulcrumed on a screw 322 extending vertically through the slide arm 286 (Fig. 5) and having threaded on its lower end a spacing collar 324 and lock nut 326, the collar bearing against a friction washer 328 to prevent the lever 320 from pivoting too freely about the screw 322. The gage fingers 3I4, 3I6 at the outer side of the shoe A are likewise pivoted on a horizontal lever 330 pivotally secured by a screw 332 to the inner end of the slide arm 268. The construction by which the gage fingers are mounted on the ends of the horizontal levers 326, 330 is the same for each gage and accordingly, a description of the mounting of the gage 3I6, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, will be sufficient for a proper understanding of this construction.

The lower portion of the gage finger 3I6 curves inwardly and is arranged to engage the sole and shoe at its extreme lower portion. The upper portion of the finger is T-shaped in cross section and is mounted for heightwise sliding movement in a retaining plate 334 provided with a slot in which the finger slides. The finger is normally urged toward the lower limit of its sliding movement by a light tension spring 336 secured at its lower end to the plate 334 by a pin 338 and at its upper end to a laterally projecting finger 34!! secured by screws to the upper end of the gage 3I6. When the gage is swung by the supporting arm I96 over the pad the lower end of the gage finger contacts with the upper surface of the pad permitting the finger to slide heightwise relatively to the retaining plate against the tension of the spring 336. The retaining plate 334 has a laterally projecting ear 342 formed on its outer side whereby the plate is pivetally secured to the end of the horizontal lever 330 by a stud 344, the lower end of which is threaded to receive a retaining nut 345. The projection 342 carries an eye screw 346 through which is hooked one end of a light tension spring 348 the other end of the spring being secured to a pin 350 mounted in a rib 352 extending away from the shoe and formed on the end of the lever 336. This construction permits the retaining plate 334 to pivot about the stud 344 when the finger 3I6 is moved into engagement with the sole and shoe and thus permits the finger to position itself in accordance with the angle of the portion of the sole and shoe engaged thereby. When the gage is withdrawn, however, and returned to inoperative position, the spring 348 centralizes the retaining member on the stud 344 and thus keeps the inner surface of the gage finger always directed toward the central portion of the pad.

As stated, the gage finger 3I4 and the fingers 3I2 and 3l8 are pivotally mounted respectively on the horizontal levers 330, 320 by substantially the same construction as that just described except that the two fingers 3I8 are supported in a retaining member 354 which is wide enough to support both fingers, these fingers being maintained in positions facing the central portion of the pad by a single spring 356.

The pinions 212, 214 are rotated to move the gage fingers toward and away from the shoe and sole on the pad at the operating station by mechanism carried by the arms I94, I96 and interconnecting these arms so that they swing toward and away from the pad as a unit. This mechanism comprises an upper rack bar or slide 358 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) slidably mounted in housings 366, 362 formed respectively on the arms I94 I96. The slide is provided on its lower side with rack teeth 364 which are engaged by the teeth of a pinion 366 mounted on a hollow shaft 361 journaled in bearings formed in a housing 368 slidably mounted on the slide. 358 and normally secured against movement with, or relatively to the slide, by a link 316 (Fig. 4) mounted on a guideway in the arm I94 and secured in position by a bolt 312 extending through a slot in the link to permit adjustment of the latter on the arm or, when desired, to permit the link to slide on the arm. When the link 310 is rigidly secured to the arm I94 the housing 368 is stationary and causes the oposite gage fingers to move positively equal amounts in opposite directions toward and away from the shoe so that the shoe and sole will be positioned on the pad as well as being positioned relatively to each other. When the link 310 is free to slide on the arm I 94, the housing 368 and the pinion 366 carried thereby can move on the slide 358 when the gage mechanism is operated and this construction causes the gages to be moved toward the shoe yieldingly as will hereinafter appear so that they will be stopped by engagement with either the shoe or the sole resting on the pad and thus operate first merely to find the sole and shoe where they have been located by the operator on the pad and then operate to position the shoe and sole relatively to each other.

Directly under the slide 358 and in line with the pinion 366 the arms I94, I 96 carry respectively in suitable housings short transverse slides 314, 315. the slide 314 being provided on its upper side with teeth 316 which mesh with the pinion 366. On their lower sides the slides 314, 315 are provided respectively with rack teeth318 and 386 which mesh with the pinions 296, 298 which are secured to the inner ends of the splined shafts 262, 264. The slides 358 and 315 are connected together by a block 382 so that they move together. The pinion 366. is rotated to operate the slides by means of a handle 384 secured to the end of the hollow shaft 361, this shaft, as shown in Fig. 4, extending transversely of the housing 368 in a bearing 386 projecting forwardly from the side thereof. Normally the handle 384 is maintained in a substantially vertical position against a stop pin 388 in the end portion of the bearing 386 by a torsion spring 390 one end of which is secured in the housing 368 and the other end hooked into a projection 392 formed on the hub portion of the handle. When the handle is moved toward the right, as view-ed in Fig. 2, the pinion 366 is rotated in a clockwise direction to move the upper slide 358 toward the right which also moves the short slide 315 in the same direction and thus rotates the pinion 298 clockwise'to move the slide arm 288 toward the center of the pad. At the same time the pinion 366 moves the short slide 314 at the right-hand side of the mechanism toward the left so that the pinion 296 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move the slide arm 266 an equal distance toward the center of the pad. Since the space ordinarily separating the gage fingers from the shoe and sole is not great a relatively small amount of movement of the handle 384 will usually bring the ga e fingers against the shoe and sole and cause them to position the shoe and sole relatively to each other on the pad. When the pinion 366 is rotated in an opposite or counterclockwise direction by the torsion spring 390 operating on the handle 384 the direction of movement of various slide members is reversed, thereby moving the slide arms equal amounts in opposite directions to return the gage fingers to inoperative positions.

Slidably mounted in the projection 392 (Fig. 3) on the handle 384 is a pawl 394 and below the pawl on the shaft 361 is a ratchet wheel 396 secured against rotation with the shaft 361 by a pin 391 (Fig. 4) extending from the hub portion of the housing 360. The pawl 394 is urged against the ratchet wheel 396 by a compression spring 398 bearing at one end against a shoulder on the pawl and at the other end against the upper wall of the projection. The pawl extends upwardly through a hole in the projection and is provided with a transverse pin 400 which is engaged by a pair of ears 402 formed on a hand-operated lever 404 pivoted on the handle 384 on a pin 406. The lever 404 has a downwardly extending portion 408 which is engaged by a horizontal pin 4! slidably mounted in the lower portion of the handleand engaged at its opposite end by the tail of a lever 4 I 2 pivoted on ears projecting forwardly from the handle. The lower end of the pivoted lever 4I2 is arranged to engage the head of a slide rod 4I4 extending through the hollow shaft 361. The opposite end of the slide rod M4 is rounded and projects beyond the shaft 361, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it will be in position to be engaged by a member later to be described and to be moved forwardly in the shaft 361 by this member to rotate the lever M2 in a counterclockwise direction and, through the pin 4 I 0, to rotate the hand lever 404 in an opposite direction to lift the pawl 394 out of engagement with the ratchet 396 and thus permit the torsion spring 390 automatically to return the handle to inoperative position against the stop pin 388, thereby withdrawing the gage fingers from engagement with the sole and shoe.

The mechanism for causing the above action to take place, for lifting the plunger 254 which looks the arms I94, I96 in operative position from behind the end of the projection 250 to permit the arms to be rotated into inoperative position, and also for raising the pawl I12 away from the teeth on the slide bar I62 to permit the air nozzle to return to inoperative position is operated by fluid pressure which, as herein illustrated, is supplied by the pressure in the pad being inflated. As stated above, the projection 96 on the valve casing 10 of each pad box is provided with a. plunger I02 and a compression spring 4I6 normally urges the plunger into its lowest position in the casing. The end of the plunger extends above the projection 96 and, when the pad is located at the operating station, is in position to engage an arm 4I8 secured to the end of a horizontal shaft 420 (Fig. 4) by a screw 422 and arranged to be rotated with the shaft by the plunger I02 when the fluid pressure in the pad reaches an amount suflicient to overcome the force of the spring M6. The shaft 420 is mounted in a bearing 424 formed on the upper side of the arm I88 of the casting 58 and has clamped on its opposite end another arm 426 the outer end of which is slotted to engage a pin 430 mounted transversely in the upper end of the pawl I12. Consequently, when the shaft 420 is rotated by the valve plunger I02, the arm 426 will lift the pawl I12 away from engagement with the teeth on the slide bar I62 and thereby unlock the air nozzle 56 from engagement with the valve casing 10 and permit the nozzle to be returned to inoperative position by the compression springs I24, I32.

The shaft 420 also carries another arm 432, best shown in Fig. 4, this arm being loosely mounted on the shaft rearwardly of the arm M8 and having a laterally extending portion arranged to be engaged by the plunger I04 in the projection 98 of the valve casing 10 when a pad box is located at the operating station. The plunger I04 is held in its lowered position by a compression spring 434 (Fig. 2) which is lighter than the spring 4I6 which operates the plunger I02, thereby causing the plunger I04 to be operated a little sooner than the plunger I02 by the fluid pressure in the pad. The arm 432 is also provided with a rearwardly extending portion having a surface 436 thereon arranged to engage the pin 260 carried by the plunger 254 which rides on the projection or flange 250 and locks the arms I94, I96 in their forwardly rotated position. An upwardly extending portion of the arm 432 is provided with an inclined surface 438 for engaging the rounded end of the slide rod 4I4 which operates the lever M2 on the handle 384 and releases the pawl 394 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 396, thereby permitting the gage fingers to be withdrawn automatically from operative position by the torsion spring 390.

In the operation of the machine briefly summarized, the operator positions a shoe and sole on the pad 20 of the pad box which is located at the operating station and depresses the treadle 2I4 to move the gage-carrying arms from the position shown in Fig. 1 into operative position over the pad. After the arms have been automatically locked in this position by the plunger 254 the operator grasps the handle 384 and moves it toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, to rotate the pinions 212, 214 on the splined shafts 262, 264 through the transverse slide and pinion mechanisms described above. The gage fingers move equal amounts in opposite directions toward the sole and shoe and position them on the pad relatively to each other. If one finger of either pair of the opposite sets of gages contacts with either the sole or shoe before the other gage of that pair, the horizontal levers 320, 339 pivot about their axes to cause the other fingers to be moved into contact with the sole or shoe by continued movement of the slide arms 286, 288 before the positioning movement takes place. The gage fingers, of course, position themselves in accordance with the angles of the portions of the sole or shoe engaged thereby through their pivotal mounting on the ends of the arms 32!], 339. The fingers which first engage a side of the sole or shoe then move the member they engage transversely of the pad until the opposite fingers are engaging such member. When the handle 384 has forced all the fingers into engagement with both the sole and shoe the latter are positioned transversely of the pad and are also centralized relatively to each other.

The operator then releases the handle 384 and the pawl 394 engages the ratchet wheel 396 to lock the gages in operative position. He next depresses the treadle 28 to move the nozzle 56 into operative engagement with the valve mechanism 18, the nozzle being locked in this position by engagement of the pawl I12 with the teeth of the slide bar I62, thereby causing fluid under pressure to flow into the pad 20 without further attention on the part of the operator. In depressing the treadle 28 the operator also trips the clutch which causes the pads to move intermittently into and out of the operating station so that the pad upon which the sole and shoe have now been located and which is applying pressure thereto immediately starts to move "out of the operating station. Since the positioning gages are locked in operative position and the nozzle 56 is locked in operative engagement with the valve mechanism, both mechanisms will move as a unit with the pad as it leaves the operating station, this movement being permitted by the movable mounting of the casting 58 on the supporting bar 60.

When the required fluid under pressure has been introduced into the pad so that the sole and shoe are under full pressure, the pressure in the passage 89 and in the opening below the plunger I84 forces the plunger upwardly against its compression spring to cause the arm 432 to release the gage operating handle 384 thus relieving pressure of the gages against the shoe and to lift the plunger 254 away from the projection 258, thereby permitting the gage-carrying arms I94, I96 to be swung upwardly into a vertical position by the torsion spring 284. Immediately thereafter the plunger I02, the spring of which is slightly heavier than the spring which controls the plunger I04, is forced upwardly to operate the horizontal arm 426 and to lift the pawl I12 away from the teeth of the slide bar I62, thereby permitting the nozzle 56 to return under the action of its springs into inoperative position. The weight I16 thereupon operates to return the gage mechanism and the plunger 56 to the operating station which position is determined by engagement of the lug I86 with the frame I2. In returning to the operating station the slide block 238 (Fig. 3) is held in the upper end of the T-slot 240 by the detent 244 so that the pin 236 is in position to register with and enter the hole in the block and thereby connect the treadleoperated mechanism with the gage arms so that the latter can be operated to position a sole and shoe on the next pad which is now located at the operating station. This pad was, of course, defiated while it was moving into the operating station by engagement of the projection 92 of the outlet valve with the exhaust cam 94 so that the operator merely removes the shoe to which a sole has been attached, places another sole and shoe on the pad and then repeats the operations described above.

If it should be desired to have the positioning gages act as feelers to find the shoe and sole where they are located by the operator on the pad and then to position them relatively to each other without any substantial movement of the sole laterally of the pad, the operator loosens the bolt 312 (Fig. 4) and permits the link 318 to slide on the arm I94, thereby causing the housing 368 to float on the slide member 358 so that operation of the handle 384 will rotate the pinion 366 and through it the pinions 212, 214 until one set of gages contacts with one side of either the sole or shoe. The transverse slide which operates this set of gages will then stop and the pinion 366 will ride along the teeth of such slide while moving the opposite transverse slide to operate the pinion which moves the other set of gages against the other side of the sole and shoe. The above construction, therefore; permits either the positioning of the sole and shoe transversely of the pad and relatively to each other by equal and opposite movement of the gages at each side of the shoe or, if desired, permits the gages to be operated in such a manner that they will find the sole and shoe placed on the pad by the operator and will locate the shoe and sole relatively to each other without any substantial movement thereof relatively to the pad.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 disclose a modified form of gage mechanism for relatively positioning a shoe and sole in cases where the marginal portion of the sole is to extend beyond or overhang the edge of the shoe bottom a predetermined amount around the periphery of the shoe. The gages are mounted for movement toward and away from the shoe in slide members 440 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 8) arranged to be mounted under the cover plates 282, 284 in the housings 28I, 283 (Fig. 4) on the gage carrying arms I94, I96, these slides having rack teeth to permit their being actuated by the pinions 212, 214. Each member 440 is provided at its opposite edge faces with converging T-shaped slots 442, 443 in which are mounted respectively slides 444, 446. The inner edges of the slide members 444, 446 have teeth 441 formed thereon which are engaged by the teeth of a pinion 448 rotatably mounted on a stud 450 extending vertically through the central portion of the slide 448. Each of the slides 444, 446 carries a pair of sole and shoe-positioning gages arranged respectively to engage the edge face of a sole B, positioned longitudinally of the pad by a toe gage 38', and the side of a shoe A mounted on the sole, the sole-positioning gages at each side of the pad being indicated by the numerals 452, 454 and the shoe-positioning gages by the numerals 456, 458. Each pair of gages is slidably mounted in a groove or guideway 459 formed in the upper surface of its supporting slide and the gages are retained in the guideways by cover plates 450 secured in position by screws 462. The sole and shoe-positioning gages 452, 456 at opposite sides of the shoe are arranged to engage the sole and shoe in the vicinity of the tip line and, in order that they may contact the sole and shoe substantially at right angles to the portions engaged thereby, the T-slots 443 in the slides 440 are located at acute angles relatively to the slots 442, as shown in Fig. 8. The opposite pairs of sole and shoe gages amen.

t;..-.4-58 are arrangedit'mengage. theisole shoe. substantially at the ends oft the: like.- the tip gagesaare arranged; to; 1110318? toward and; away from" the. shoe substantially: air.

. rightlanglesl tortheasurfacesengaged thereby.

Theinner endszofi the soleandishoespositioning' gages-uni each. set; are cylindrical iha.shape.=-and. havemounted vertically ;therein;;.work-engaging;: fingers 464, 466 the lower ends of shaped; andianrangeditn contact nespeetivel y with the sidesof. the soleandishoee. 'IDhe sole-engag-v ingfingers Mi k arelsecumediin ends, otthegages; by: collars 488, Hill Eigs. 8:v and-i103; .to the uppen:.and;:intermediate portions: oil. the fingers: and.-.hea;ring. against; the? ongnsitea emisofi the. cylindrical portions soithatsthesele fingersz.aize .fixei heightwise in guest The; shoeeengagingfingers; 4E6 are addaistaahl-eheiehte wise intheii: hearings by means." of; snlittcollars: 41L threaded; .of; the; fingers. and; clamped in; positiom 13561812116318 4114c. TEheholes; in the cylindrical ends ot the shoeeszes-aneslarsen than the shank portionsoiiithefingerslfifi: and compnession: springs 4-1 i are provided in: the holes tor maintaining the shoeeengaging; fingers.- atthe lumen limitsv of their;heiehtwiseadiustments; as: detemiinerl. by; the collars; 4|;2-, the, lowerends ,ot the springs: bearing against shoulders, formedv on the. fingers. In: this: way:- each. shoe-engaging, finger can: be adjusted-until; it will; eleasithe upper. edgesof the sole, being. operated;- on-..

'Ihexyorh-eneagiflfisurfaces 0t themeifingers aremaintained; substantially in. an inwardly tacing position so that they-will engage the soleand v shoe at theproperz angles by set. screws 418 hear-- ing; against. small friction plugs 480: (liig'.v 10:) which are forced against the;- shank portions? of the fingers: and: create sufficient friction. to: prevent thefingers from turning tomtar in their bearings; thereby holding the fingenszsubstantial-ly in; inwardly" facing positions: while: penmitting them to rotate sufliciently upon. engagement with the: sole. and-L shoe to conform themselves to the angles-of the portionsiengagedqthereby.

Theslidine portions oft each: neir. oi? .g-agesex.- tendeoutwardly'beyond the slidemembers-W, 6 in which they are mounted and havejiormed in their: adjacentedge -faces Semi-cyIindriCaI-mmnF ings; which register to. term-1110165482.. Loosely mounted ineach. hole-.482 is-a plugmlfiig. 89-, a compression. spring 486,. and; another.- pilingv 488 which bears normally against avpair of transverse pins: 499, 497.- mountedv respectively in: the outer-"portions of eachof gages, the adjacent ends of the pins. extending-- into the; holes-482i Forwardly ofthe ho1e 482. the g es of: eaehpair are providedwith:upwardly extending. pins 484, 4.96 arranged to enter: radially extending...slots 498;,5fl|1 formedinthe opposite sides of I a: disk. 5&2 having an. upwardly extend-ingstem-ind-which enters a hole: irnthe cover platev fitandtholdstthe disk iii-position onthe gages-whilepermitting it to rotate relatively therein.

Normally the:- g-ages .of: each set are. held-with their opposite ends substantial ali-nement. and with; the transverse-slots.-

thedisk. 502- parallel toethe ends oi -the gages by meansof the-oompression spring; 48% which. forces against; the-bottom ofiathe hole-m and forcesthe plug; 4:88against the-pins. mflaz thenehg aliaing-the-pinswith:eachothen moved by the slide members 440 towardtheshoe it is obviousrthata finger ofsone pair may, contactwith eitherthe: sole. orqthe shoej before a flhserzof the othenipai'natethe same sideof the; shoe. words. of: the gages atithe; halt mawcontachhefioreone ofithegazes. at. the tip line, or vice versm whem-thisihawens the pinion M I byacontinued movement at: thmslide Mmtamtatein: a directiomto. movethe slidmcarming tharnain of gage;fingers:- not yet contactedzwith-the; sole wor shoeiorwardig initil one ontheiothenof. said: gage-v flmersmntaztse either the sole or; shoe... In. this. way at; least one gage-oi each set at;- the. same: side Ofijhfii slmeihronght. into engage.- menhzwith'; thesnle; on since hetero anyrdative. mos/.ementtakes place. .As-lthe gages pair.- ame'moved tuxther. inwardly toward; thesshoe byzcontinued; movementloithe=:s1ide:,44ll,, the vertical pin carried by the contactimsia e rearmdly relatively: to the; inwardly moving slide-,,.therebyamtatiim; thedisk: 5&2 it: al.- to-causertheronposite use oi that;hair tohe mommy-its;-pin; ,inwardlx asainst; the sole; or shoe. asther castzmayz be. .fEheconstruction; of. themechamismv iszsu'ch that when; one ofithe; gages: of; each of: the founpairshas contacted: with eitheethce sole ctr-shoe the: rotatiom of the. disk 51. associated with; that naiizzmouesathez other sage a. nredetermined amonnttoz-nosition the. shoe: on the: soleso thatithe solemersmshas: thenmner overhang-cm extensiomrelativeiyato m shoe bottom. .Asthe gagesamoveawayfmrmthe, solaeandishnez the:- compression spri s: lflfinreturn thesailesrot each pair to their: aimed nositionand rotate thedisks; -2 so :thatthe; oppositely-- dis..- nosedradial. slots aneiiaga-in suhstantially'panailaleli twthe endsotthiegasess Byethisiconstmctinmans enemies; on .w-ili be nositionedmelstifwels tel-its sole in such a: mane nernthtta-the; extensiiom of. thezmarginz on thewsol'e relativelyt to; the-"peripherals; ofiithe' shoebottom: willche; suhstantiaiiymhesame at: eachside-ot the shoe. Moreoven'jirchanzi-nggtherrelaltiverlengths oi. thesliding nontionsyot the e-ages or: the: shapes of. t eqfingersqthe' extensioneon overhang; of: the sole; can: be made; greater-on smallen, asdeeined,- ors-the; ofthc: extension c.3331 be varied: at diflerenti portions 0% the forepairt-of: thezshoe;

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secureby? Lettens'Patent of the United. States is z;

1; A maehinerfonapplyingpressnre: tovshoe-bottoms. having; in: combination" a; plurality of: pads armnecd each toreceives a: sole aindshoe shoeen aging: bbutments. for? each: pad; mechanism for moving; thepads successivelyinto and; out; of

an: operating; statiom meansgmovabler with each pad for: relatively positioning; a sole fl'lidgShOE thereom, means; for relatz'wely, moving the abutments? and: pack heiahtwisegof the: shoeto apply; pressure toe thesshoezbottonn 2. for applying pressure to-shoe. bottoms having, inwmbination a pluizality" of: pads arranged-each to. receives sole andshoe;, shoe.- engaging means fioreach. pad,-. mechanism for moving pads successivekv into andront ofiia-n operating station, means movable-out,- oi the'opcrating station with each pad in turn for relatively positionirmmsole and meansfor infiliiimgz the. padstm pressure; to the soles and shoes:

3.1 A'machine 01! applying pressm'e: to shoe but:- tomst having; combine-mama pluralityoi infiatablenodsarranged: each i toreceive a: solerand shoeyabutmen-tsi for. engaging the shoe, mechanismitor moving the pads. successively into; and

outyoii a l-operating; station; means for inflating operating station to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, and means for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on each pad.

4. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, shoeengaging abutments for each pad, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad While it is moving out of the operating station to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, and means for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on each pad prior to its inflation, said means being constructed and arranged to remain in operative engagement with the sole and shoe until the pad is inflated.

5. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in. combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, shoe-engaging abutments associated with each pad, mechanism for moving the pads one by one into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, and means at the operating station for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on each pad, said means being constructed and arranged to move out of said operating station with the pad While in operative engagement with the sole and shoe.

6. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, abutments for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means movable out of the operating station with each pad in turn for relatively positioning a sole and shoe thereon, and means for inflating each pad in turnwhile it is moving out of the operating station thereby to apply pressure to the sole and shoe.

7. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to apply pressure to a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means movable out of the operating station with each pad in turn for relatively positioning a sole and shoe thereon, and means for returning said positioning means to the operating station after pressure has been applied to the sole and shoe.

8. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, means for each pad for engaging theshoe, mechanism for moving the pads in turn into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad successively to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, means initially located at the operating station for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on each pad, said means being arranged to move with the pad out of the operating station while remaining in operative engagement with the sole and shoe, and means for returning the positioning means to said operating station.

9. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, abutments for the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads in turn into and out of an operating station, means at the operating station for inflatingeach pad to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, said means completing the inflation of each pad during its movement from the operating station to a position beyond said station, and means movable out of the operating stationwith each pad in turn for positioning the sole and shoe relatively to each other on said pad,- said means remaining in operative engagement with the sole and shoe until the pad is inflated, thereby permitting the next pad to move into the operating station while the first pad is being inflated.

10. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, means for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad when it is located at the operating station, means movable with each pad in turn out of the operating station for inflating the pad to apply pressure to the sole and shoe thereon, said means inflating the pad during such movement, and means for returning the inflating means to the operating station when the pad is fully inflated.

11. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, means for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means movable out of the operating station with each pad in turn for relatively positioning a sole and shoe thereon, means for inflating each pad to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, said inflating means being constructed and arranged to move out of the operating station with each pad in turn during the inflating operation, and means for returning said positioning and said inflating means to the operating station after the pad is inflated.

12. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, abutments for the shoe for each pad, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad in turn during its movement away from the operating station to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, means for relatively locating the sole and shoe on each pad and for maintaining them in position as the pad moves away from the operating station, and means for retracting said positioning means from the sole and shoe after the pad is inflated.

13. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to apply pressure to a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving the pads in turn into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the sole and shoe during movement of the pad from the operating station to a position beyond said station, means initially located at the operating station for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on the pad and for maintaining them in proper position until the pad-is inflated, said means being constructed and arranged to move with each pad out of the operating station While engaging the sole and shoe, thereby permitting another pad to be moved into said operating station, and means for automatically withdrawing said positioning means from operative engagement with the sole and shoe and for returning it to the operating station after the first-named pad is fully inflated.

14. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable: pads each-arranged to receive a sole and shoe, means: for locating the soles and shoes:

longitudinally of the pads, mechanism for moving eachpad in turn into: and away from an oper ating station; means initially locatedat the operating-*statiomforpositioning-a sole and shoe rela-- tivelyto-each: other laterally of each pad, means operating statiom 15; A- machine for applying pressure to sho bottoms having; in 'combination, a pluralityof lnflatable-padseacharranged to receive a sole and shoe mechanism formoving each pad in turn-into and out of an operatingstation, means for-positioning a sole and shoe relatively to each othero'n each' pad when it" is located at the operating station; means initially located at the operating statiomfor-inflating each pad in turn to apply pressuretothesole'and shoe, said means operating' whi1e the: padmoves away from" the operating stat-ion; mechanism for. operating said. inflating means, and means for locking the positioning-meansin: operative position: before the padwmoves awayfromsaid operating station, therebycausing said positioning means to move with the pad away-from said station;

16i A machine" for'applying pressure toshoe bottoms having; in combination, a plurality of pads: each arrangedto receive a so-le and: shoe, mechanismior'movi-ngeach padin turn into and away from an operating station, anabutment forpositioning the soleand shoe longitudinally of the' pad means forpositioning the sole and shoe relatively to each other widthwise of the pad, means for'inflating eachpadin turn' to applypressure-to thesole and shoe-mounted thereon; mechanismfor-operating the inflating means, meansjfor" locking the positioning means in operativeposit-ion beforethepad means away from theopera-ting'station', thereby causing said means tomov away' from said stationwith the pad, and means forreleasingand returning said p0- siti-oning' means" to the operating station after thepad hasbeen inflated;

17; A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottomshavingg iii-combination, a pad arranged to-receive a soleand shoe, abutments for engaging the shoe, means for inflating the pad to apply pressure tothe sole and shoe, means for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on the pad; mean's'for-locking said positioning means inoperative position, and means operated by the pressurein the pad for releasing said locking means:

18% A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having; incombination, a plurality of pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, abutments associated with each pad for engagingthe shoe; mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station; means for-relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means for inflating eachpad in-turn to'apply pres'sure to the shoe bottom, meansior locking' the positioningmeans in opaisogoa-r erative engagement with thesole and shoe thereby causing said positioning means to: hold. the sole andshoe in proper position during the inflating operation, and fluid pressure operated; means for releasingsaid' locking means.

19; A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, incombination, a pad arranged to apply pressure to a sole and. shoe, means for relatively positioning a, sole and shoe on the pad, said means: being arranged to swing from an inoperative position-- into operative position over the pad, means ior locking said positioning meansin said operative position, and fluid pressure" operated meansfor releasing saidi lock ingmeans;

20; A machine forapplying pressure to shoe bottoms having; in combination, apad for applying pressure to a sole and shoe, meansfor relatively positioning the sole" and shoe onthe pad, saidmeans being arranged. to swing from aninoperative positioninto operative position over'the-pad means for locking said positioning means in saidoperative -position, and means: con trolled-by the pressure in the pad for releasing said-locking means.

21a A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to apply pressure to asole and shoe, mechanismfor moving the pads success-ively intoand out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning asole and shoe on-eachpad; saidmeans being arrangedto swing about a horizontal axisi'nto operative position over each pad in turn, means for swinging said positioning" means into operative position, means for locking said positioning means in such posit'ion, means operatedbythe fl'ui'dpressurefor'releasing said locking means; and means for ret'urningsaid" positioning means toinoperative position;

225 A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a. pad arranged to apply pressure to a sole and shoe; means for relatively positioning-- a sole and shoe on the pad; means-for inflating the-pad to apply'pressure tothe sole and shoethereon, means for locking thepositioning means-in operative engagement with the sole and shoe,- and means operated by the pressure irr the pad for releasing said locking means.

23; A machine-for applying pressure to shoe bottomshavi'ng, in combination, a pad arranged to receive s; sole and shoe; abutment'sfor engaging the shoe, means'for'infl'ating the pad? to apply pressure to the sole and shoe mounted tion, and means operated by the pressure in the padfor releasing said locking' means.

25; A machine for applying pressure toshoe bottoms having-,in combination; a plurality of pads arranged each" to" receive'asole and shoe;

abutments'forengaging the shoe, mechanism for movingthe pads-successively into-and out of an operating station, means at the operating station for inflating: each pad inturn toapply pressure to the sole and shoe thereon, means for locking said inflating means in operative posi- Lil).

tion, means controlled by the pressure in the pad for releasing said locking means, and means for returning the inflating means to inoperative position.

26. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, means for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means for locking the positioning means in operative engagement with the sole and shoe, means for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, means for locking the inflating means in operative position, and fluid pressure controlled means for releasing both locking means.

2'7. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, abutments on each pad for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means movable out of the operating station with each pad in turn for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on the pad, means for locking said positioning means in operative position, means for inflating each pad while it is moving out of the operating station, means for locking said inflating means in operative position, and means operated by the pressure in the pad for releasing the means for locking the positioning means and inflating means.

28. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means for locking the positioning means in operative engagement with the sole and shoe after they have been positioned on the pad, means for inflating each pad in turn, means for locking the inflating means in operative position, and

means operated by fluid pressure for releasing the means for locking the positioning means. and the inflating means.

29. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad arranged to apply pressure to a sole and shoe, abutments for engaging the shoe, gages for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on the pad, means for moving the gages transversely of the pad toward the shoe to locate the sole and shoe relatively to each other on the pad, means for locking the gages in operated position after they have located the sole and shoe, means for relatively moving the abutments and pad to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, and fluid pressure controlled means for releasing the locking means.

30. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, abutments for each pad for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on each pad, means for locking said positioning means in operative position after the sole and shoe have been positioned on the pad, means for relatively moving the abutments and pad heightwise of the shoe to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, and fluid pressure operated means for releasing said locking means. v

31. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads for applying pressure to soles and shoes, means for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, gages at the operating station for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, said gages being arranged to move from inoperative position into operative position over each pad in turn, means for looking the gages in said operative position, means for moving the gages toward the sole and shoe to position said members relatively to each other on the pad, means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe after they have positioned them on the pad, and fluid pressure operated means for releasing both of said locking means.

32. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads for applying pressure to soles and shoes,

means for moving the pads successively into and L out of an operating station, gages at the operating station for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, said gages being arranged to swing from an inoperative position into operative position over each pad in turn, means for locking said gages in said operative position, means for moving the gages toward the sole and shoe to position said members relatively to each other on the pad, means for locking the gages in engagement with the sole and shoe after they have positioned them on the pad, and means controlled by the pressure in the pad for releasing said locking means.

33. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of I pads for applying pressure to soles and shoes, means for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, gages at the operating station for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad; said gages being arranged to move from an inoperative position into operative position over each pad in turn, means for locking said gages in said operative position, means for moving the gages equal distances to- Ward the sole and shoe to position said members relatively to each other on the pad, means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe after they have positioned said members on the pad, and means operated by fluid under pressure for releasing both locking means, said releasing means being constructed and arranged to release the means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe before releasing the means for locking them in operative position over the pad.

34. A machine for applying pressure to shoe and out of an operating station, means for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad in turn, said means being arranged to swing about a horizontal axis into operative position over each pad, means for swinging the gages into said operative position, means for locking the gages in such position, means for moving the gages against the sole and shoe to position them on the pad, means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe, means for inflating the pad to apply pressure to the sole and shoe, means for locking said inflating means in operative position, and fluid pressure controlled means for releasing all said locking means.

35. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads each arranged to receive asole and shoe, abutments for engaging the shoes on the pads, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out-of an operating station, means'for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on eachpad in turn, said means being arranged to swing .about a horizontal axis into operative position over each pad in turn, means forswinging the gages into said operative position, means for locking the gages in suchposition, means for moving the gages against the sole and shoe to position them on the pad, means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe, means'for inflating the padto apply pressure to the sole and shoe, means for locking said inflating means in operative position, and means operated by the pressure in the pad for releasing all said locking means, said releasing means operating first to release the means for locking the gages against the sole and shoe and operating thereafter to release the means for locking the gages in operative position over the pad and then to release the means for locking the inflating means in operative position.

36. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, abutments associated with each pad for engaging the-shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means movable out of the operating station'with each pad in turn for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on said pad, said means being arranged to swing from an inoperative position over the pad into operative position, means for swinging the gages into said operative position, means for locking the gages in such position, means for moving the gages-equal amounts toward the sole antlshoe thereby to position the sole and shoe relatively to each other on :the pad, means vfor locking the gages against "the sole and shoe after they have been positioned on the pad, means for inflating each pad :-in turn while it is moving out "of the operating station to 'apply pressure tot-he :sole and shoe thereon, means .for-locking the inflating means in operative position, means controlled *by-the fluid pres-- :sure in the pad for releasing all said locking means :in timed relation to each "otheryand .means for relnirning said .gages'and said inflating means to theoperating station.

'37. A machine .for applying pressure to shoe bottom having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, .abu'tmen ts for each pad for engaging the shoe, :mechanism vfor moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, a nozzle .for introducing fluid under pressure into each :pa'd Iinfiturn, aneans for moving the .nozz'le'against the -pad to supply fluid under pressure thereto, means for locking the nozzle :in such position, thereby causing it to move with the pad out of the operating station while .in- .flating the pad, means controlled by the pressure in the pad "for releasing the nozzle from the pad, and springs for returning said nozzle to inoperative position.

'88. A machine for applying pressure to shoe "bottoms having, in combination, a plurality 0f inflatable pads each arranged "to receive a sole :and 'shoe, abutments for engaging the shoe on each "pad, mechanism for moving the :pads successively into and out of an operating station, :means initially floca'ted fat "the :operating station and movable in directions parallel toithe movement of the pads for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, means for-operating said inflatingmeans while the pad is located at the operating station, means for locking said inflating means in operative position before the pad moves out of the operating station so that said inflating means will move out of said station with the pad, means actuated by fluid under pressure for releasing said locking means when the pad is fully inflated, and means for returning the inflating means to the operating station.

39. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, .abutments for engaging the shoe on each pad, mechanism for moving each pad in turn into and away from an operating station, gages at the operating station for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means for inflating the pads successively as each .pad moves away from the operating station to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, treadle-operated mechanism .for operating said inflating means, a lock for holding said inflating means in operative position as the pad moves out of the operating station thereby causing said means to move out of said station with the pad, and connections between said inflating means and the positioning gages for causing .the latter to moveout of the operating station with the pad while in operative engagement with the sole and shoe, thereby causing the sole and shoe to be maintained in proper position during the inflating operation.

40. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads each arranged to receive a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving each pad in turn into and out of an operating station, gages normally located at the operating station for,

positioning a sole and shoe relatively to each other on each pad, means for admitting fluid .under pressure to each pad in turn, said means being constructed and arranged to operate :during movement of the pad from the operating station to a position beyond said station, means for operating said inflating means, means for locking said inflating means in operative position and thereby causing it to move out of the operating station with the pad, mechanism for maintaining the positioning gages in operative relation to the sole and shoe during said movement, thereby causing said gages to move out of the operating station with the pad and inflating means, and fluid pressure operated means for releasing said locking means.

41. A machine 'for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, an endless carrier, :a plurality of pads on the carrier each arranged to receive a Sole and shoe, abutments for engaging a shoe, mechanism for moving the carrier intermittently to bring each pad in turn into and away from an operating station, gages initially located at the operating station for positioning the sole and shoe relatively to each otheron each pad, means for inflating each pad, said means being constructed and arranged to inflate the pad during its movement away from the operating station, treadle-operated means for moving said inflating means into operative position, a pawl .for locking said inflating means in such .position and thereby causing it tomove out of the operating station with the pad, and a .plunger for maintaining the gages in operative engagement with the sole and shoe prior to and during the inflation of the pad.

42. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, an endless carrier, a plurality of inflatable pads mounted on the carrier and arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving the carrier intermittently to present the pads in turn at an operating station, gages for positioning the shoe and sole relatively to each other on each pad at the operating station, a lock for maintaining said gages in operative position, means for introducing fluid under pressure to each pad in turn to inflate the pad and apply pressure to the shoe bottom, said means operating while each pad is moving from the operating station to the position beyond said station, connections between the inflating means and the positioning gages for causing the latter to move with the pad beyond the operating station while in operative relation with the shoe and sole, thereby holding the shoe and sole in proper position during inflation of the pad, spring means released by inflation of the pad for withdrawing the gages from operative position, and means for automatically returning the gages to the operating station.

43. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, shoe-engaging abutments for each pad, mechanism for moving the pads successively into an operating station, means for positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the sole and shoe thereon, and means for automatically retracting the positioning means when a predetermined pressure has been applied to the sole and shoe.

44. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, shoe-engaging means for each pad,

mechanism for moving the pads successively into anoperating station, gages for relatively'positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, means urging the gages normally into inoperative position, means for admitting fluid under pressure to each pad in turn to inflate it and thereby apply pressure to the shoe bottom, means for operating said gages to position the sole and shoe prior to the inflation of the pad, means for looking the gages in operative position during said inflation, and fluid-pressure-operated means for releasing said gages and permitting them to return to inoperative position when a predetermined pressure has been produced in the pad.

45. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole and shoe, gage mechanism for relatively positioning the sole and shoe on the pad, said mechanism being normally located in an upwardly extending position, means for swinging the gage mechanism into operative position relatively to the surface of the pad, and means .for permitting parts of said mechanism to yield heightwise of the pad thereby causing said parts to adjust themselves to the shape of said surface. 1

46. A machine for applying pressure toshoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole and shoe, a carrier member arranged for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of the pad, means for maintaining said member normally in an upwardly extending position, sole and shoe positioning gages carried by said member, means for swinging the carrier member over the pad to bring the ends of the gages into engagement with the surface thereof, and springs for permitting the gages to yield heightwise of the pad to adjust themselves automatically to the shape of said surface.

47. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole and shoe, a carrier member arranged for swinging movement over the pad, a spring for normally maintaining said carrier member in an inoperative position, sole and shoe gages carried by said member and arranged for sliding movement relatively thereto, springs for holding the gages at one limit of their sliding movement, and treadle-operated means for swinging the carrier member into operative position over the pad to bring the ends of the gages into contact therewith, said springs permitting the gages to slide heightwise of the pad in the carrier member and thus adjust themselves automatically to the contour of the surface of said pad.

48. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of pads arranged each to apply pressure to a sole and shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into an operating station, a carrier member, gages on said member for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad in turn when it is located at the operating station, said carrier member being arranged to swing about a horizontal axis into operative position, means for normally maintaining the carrier member in an upwardly extending position, means for swinging said member into operative position, and means for locking the carrier member in said position.

49. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads arranged each'to receive a sole and shoe, abutments for engaging a shoe mounted on each pad, mechanism for moving the pads successively into an operating station, means for inflating the pads in turn to apply pressure to the soles and shoes mounted thereon, gages for relatively positioning a sole and shoe on each pad, said gages being located above the pad and being arranged to swing downwardly over the pad about an axis extending transversely thereof, means including a weight for maintaining the gages in their upwardly extending position, treadle-operated means for swinging the gages into operative position, a latch for holding the gages in said operative position, and fluid pressure controlled means for releasing said latch and permitting the weight to return the gages to inoperative position.

50. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of inflatable pads arranged each to receive a sole and shoe, means for each pad for engaging the shoe, mechanism for moving the pads successively into and out of an operating station, means for inflating each pad in turn to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, spring means normally holding the inflating means away from the pad, treadleoperated mechanism for moving the inflating means into operative engagement with the pad, means for locking said inflating means in such position, and means actuated by the pressure in the pad for automatically releasing said locking means and thereby permitting said inflating means to be returned to inoperative position by said spring means.

51. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a plurality of 

